My Fiancé is White-Knighting Another Woman

Ashley has always been my best friend, but let's be real—she's also a total drama queen.

When we first started dating, she faked a suicide attempt by jumping into the lake. On our anniversary, she pretended to slash her wrists.

I knew she was lying every single time. But my fiancé, Chris? He always made excuses for her.

"Come on, Riley, Ashley's just a kid at heart. Her parents spoiled her rotten. Try to be a little more understanding."

Then, right before Chris and I were supposed to get married, Ashley magically produced a fake cancer diagnosis.

Chris dropped me like a hot potato. He tore through the city until he found his precious Ashley—passed out in some random guy's arms at a dive bar.

He trashed the place in a rage and swore he was done with her for good.

But later, she dumped a bucket of ice water over her own head to get his attention, then drove like a maniac up to Eagle Point.

And Chris went flying after her without a second thought.

I begged him not to go. I told him I'd die if we didn't get married that night.

He didn't even look back. "Ashley already pulled that stunt, Riley. You're not being original."

That night, he held her while they watched the sunrise from Eagle Point.

I spent that night alone, dying in a pool of my own blood.

The system blared its tenth warning just as Chris pulled his hand away and ran out the door.

"Ashley's being childish, Riley, and now you're acting like it too? I thought you were the mature one. Stop fighting me on this, okay? I promise I'll bring Ashley back safe, and then we can get married."

The door slammed shut. A gust of freezing air rushed in, stinging my eyes.

Tears spilled over.

It was always the same excuse. "Her family's a mess. She doesn't have anyone else."

So no matter how many times Ashley lied, Chris was always ready to run to her.

And now? One phone call about a midnight joyride, and Ashley easily snatched him away from me.

The system in my head flashed red.

[WARNING, HOST. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE. YOU MUST EXCHANGE RINGS IN THE CHURCH BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, OR THE SYSTEM WILL TERMINATE YOUR LIFE ACCORDING TO THE AGREEMENT.]

Chris's car was already vanishing down the street.

My hands shook as I dialed his number. The pain in my body felt like a weight crushing my chest.

It rang six times before he finally picked up, panting. "What is it?"

"Can we just exchange the rings? Please?"

I stared at the last sliver of sun on the horizon, trying to steady my breathing.

"Come to the church—the one we picked out—before midnight. We can just do the rings."

Chris's voice softened. "Do you really have to do this right now?"

"Chris, I don't have any time left…"

"Whoa! Faster, Chris, faster! This is awesome!"

Ashley's giddy voice drowned me out.

Chris patiently coaxed her. "Hold on tight. Don't fall."

"Chris, I'm talking to you."

My voice trembled, but he just brushed me off.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you. I'll be there. Just wait."

He probably still thought I was copying Ashley.

But it didn't matter, as long as he showed up.

As long as he came, I could live.

I put on my wedding dress, grabbed the rings, and waited in the church.

The moon rose, then disappeared behind the clouds. I checked my watch—barely thirty minutes left, and still no sign of him.

The system's warning echoed in my head.

The closer it got to midnight, the worse the pain became.

My hands shook so badly I could barely dial Chris's number.

He didn't answer the first few times, but finally picked up on the fifth try.

As soon as the call connected, I heard wind roaring in the background.

Then, his voice, impatient. "What now?"

"You promised you'd come."

My mouth felt like cotton. A coppery taste flooded my throat.

My pure white wedding dress was instantly stained with red.

He still didn't take me seriously. "Ashley really needs me right now."

"But I'm going to die, Chris. I'm running out of time."

Blood choked me. Every word felt like shards of glass scraping my throat.

Chris's breathing changed. He finally seemed to realize something was wrong. "Are you seriously trying to pull this on me again?"

I clutched my phone tighter as blood splattered across the screen.

Chris was losing his patience. "Riley, do you really have to compete with Ashley over every little thing? Getting married to you means all my time is yours, but right now, she's not doing well. What, you want her to die? Is a stupid wedding more important than a person's life?"

He used my full name. That meant he was angry.

Didn't he see how ridiculous this was?

"Ashley needs help, but why does it always have to be you? Can't you see what she's doing?"

I forced out the words, and my body gave out beneath me.